Latest news with #Alagumeena
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Collector inspects removal of plastic pellets from seashore in 2 coastal hamlets
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena visited the Midalam and Kodimunai beaches on Tuesday to inspect the ongoing removal of the plastic pellets washed ashore from the damaged containers of the sunken Liberian vessel off Kochi coast on May 25 last. As the ship, MSC Elsa 3, carrying more than 600 containers went down as it was sailing to Kochi Harbour on May 25 last due to suspected engine failure, some of the damaged containers holding plastic pellets, logs, cashew etc. were washed ashore in the coastal hamlets of western Kanniyakumari district on May 28 evening and also in the areas like Poovar in Kerala. Since social media posts claimed that containers carrying highly hazardous chemicals were being washed ashore to cause serious pollution to marine life, the district administration clarified that only non-hazardous materials were getting washed ashore along the shoreline of the villages and there was no panic for pollution. Though the fishermen and the villagers were cautioned against making any attempt to collect the plastic pellets or other materials being washed ashore, the villagers in large numbers collected the cashew for their use even as heavy equipment was used to remove the containers got stuck on the seashore. On receiving the protocols from the Kerala government for removing the products including the plastic pellets from the seashore, Ms. Alagumeena deployed the police, revenue, fire and rescue services, disaster management and pollution control board personnel for the operation. She also contacted the shipping company's officials in Gujarat who rushed a team to the affected villages of Kanniyakumari district for removing the plastic pellets and other products. 'While the products in one container have been handed over to the Department of Customs and Central Excise, Thoothukudi, other products collected from the seashore are being kept under the custody of respective local bodies. Removal of the plastic pellets from the seashore is going on. Repeated inspections at various spots of the coastal hamlets are being done and we are sure that there is no chemical pollution in any part of the district. We are also creating awareness among the coastal community about handling of the plastic pellets,' Ms. Alagumeena said. Sub-Collector of Padmanabhapuram Vijaykumar Meena accompanied the Collector during the inspection.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck: Nurdles spotted in 36 of 42 coastal villages in Kanniyakumari, says collector
KANNIYAKUMARI: Collector R Alagumeena on Monday said that nurdles have been spotted in 36 of the total 42 coastal villages across the district. The nurdles have reached up to Manakudi coastal village (located on the outskirts of Kanniyakumari town) and the process of removing them has been going on. The entire exercise is being recorded by drones, she said. While all the 16 coastal villages in Killiyoor taluk in the district have been affected, 10 of 13 villages in Kalkulam taluk, and 10 of 13 hamlets in Agastheeswaram taluk have been hit, sources said. After a Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC Elsa 3 sank off Kochi on May 24, a container washed ashore along the Vaniyakudi coast near Colachel last Thursday. An expert team retrieved the container and handed it over to the customs office in Thoothukudi. A total of 858 bags of nurdles, each weighing approximately 25kg, have been collected so far. On Monday, 248 bags were collected, the collector said. Speaking to reporters at the district collectorate in Nagercoil on Monday, Alagumeena said the collected nurdles would be shifted to various fishing harbours in the district.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
36 coastal villages in Kanniyakumari affected by plastic pellets was ashore; clean-up drive underway
In Kanniyakumri district, a total of 36 coastal villages have so far reported the washing ashore of plastic pellets (nurdles) from the Liberian vessel that sank off the Kochi coast on May 24. Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena told reporters on Monday that out of 42 coastal villages, 36 among them stretching from Neerodi to Keezha Manakudi villages had reported to be affected with nurdles and other materials such as wooden logs and cashew nuts. The collector noted, 'The district administration had earlier conducted a meeting with representatives from around 15 fishing hamlets at Thengapattinam harbour to explain about the do's and don'ts related to the handling of debris.' She added that the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had provided a Standard Operating Procedure for managing the situation, which includes surveys using drones, engaging individuals above 18 years for cleaning the nurdles using gloves, spade and other safety equipment. The collected nurdles were currently being safely stored at respective block and municipality offices. The collector further mentioned that arrangements were underway to transport the nurdles to nearby harbours located in Thengapattinam, Colachel and Chinna Muttam, depending on the proximity of the reported area. As this is an ongoing process, she emphasised that documentation plays a crucial role. Officials from fisheries, revenue, pollution control board and other related departments are involved in the operation. The collected nurdles would be handed over to the Customs Department, said Ms. Alagumeena.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Shore cleanup steps up in Kanniyakumari as container from sunken MSC Elsa III washes ashore
KANNIYAKUMARI: Shoreline protection activities have been intensified a day after a container, from the vessel MSC Elsa III vessel that sank 38 kilometres off the Kochi coast last Sunday, washed ashore at the Vaniyakudi beach in the district on Thursday morning. A team of senior officials from several departments, including the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), oversaw the recovery of the container and the removal of debris, as part of the shore cleaning activities on Friday. Volunteers from various agencies, including MSC Marine Engineering Resources Centre (MERC) in Porbandar, Gujarat, were involved. Eight Navy officers, led by a commander, joined the recovery efforts, while officials from the Gujarat Marine Police took part in a consultation meeting with Kanniyakumari collector Alagumeena. Incidentally, teak wood logs and raw cashews, among other products washed ashore at Chinnavilai in Kanniyakumari coast on Friday, resulting in people gathering along the shore to collect cashews. Sources said various kinds of cargo, including large quantities of nurdles (tiny microplastics), wooden logs, cast iron rods and bags of cashew nuts, have been washing up on the shores between Neerodi and Kadiyapattinam fishing hamlets for the past four days. Seeking cooperation from the public, the collector urged them not to handle the nurdles. The district administration has taken precautionary measures as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by Kerala state disaster management department.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Gram sabha meetings held in Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts
Gram sabha meetings were conducted in all village panchayats of Kanniyakumari district as part of May Day celebrations on Thursday. Collector R. Alagumeena participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Thachamalai, a tribal hamlet in Pechiparai village panchayat. During the meeting, she expressed her happiness in attending a gram sabha meeting in a tribal village ahead of Labours Day. She said that many basic amenities such as 100% drinking water, new buildings and bus services had been addressed in many villages through the gram sabha meetings. Ms. Alagumeena stressed the importance of health and urged them to have a special attention on their health condition, as a people living in tribal areas. She urged the residents to undergo regular health check ups at Primary Health Centre in Pechiparai and a government hospital in Kulasekaram. She emphasised the need for regular prenatal check-ups to ensure the health of the mother and child. and directed the health officials to pay more attention to the healthcare needs of people living in tribal regions. Highlighting the benefits of education, she said the region had five government schools and they functioned without staff shortage. She encouraged parents to ensure that their children attended school regularly without dropping out. Notably, seven students from Pechiparai Government Higher Secondary School were set to appear for NEET examination this year, she added and urged greater participation from the community. Padmanabhapuram Sub Collector Vinay Kumar Meena along with officials from various departments participated in the event. Thoothukudi Gram sabha meetings were also conducted in village panchayats across Thoothukudi district. Collector K. Elambahavath participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Vazhavallan village in Srivaikuntam panchayat union. During the meeting the Collector noted that there were about nine hamlets in the panchayat with a total population of around 3,782 people. The gram sabha meeting would review projects implemented in the village and assess whether the benefits had reached all residents. Mr. Elambahavath also reviewed the regularity of children going to school and proper functioning of anganwadi centre in the village. He emphasised the importance of nutritious food for the children, saying the children's health was closely linked to their cognitive and skill development. The Collector inspected the ongoing schemes and development works in the village and urged the officials to complete the projects without delay for the benefit of the villagers. Thoothukudi Additional Collector (Development) R. Ishwarya, Tiruchendur Revenue Divisional Officer Sukumaran and other officials were present at the meeting.
